Conservative Key Thinkers

Question 1

Thomas Hobbes

Answer 1

1588-1678, Traditional conservatist

Question 2

Hobbes Book:

Answer 2

Leviathan, 1651

Question 3

Hobbes views on the state of nature

Answer 3

the state of nature was one in which there were no enforceable criteria of right and wrong. People took for themselves all that they could, and human life was “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.”

Question 4

How could the state of nature be ended according to Hobbes?

Answer 4

Could be ended only if individuals agreed (in a social contract) to give their liberty into the hands of a sovereign, on the sole condition that their lives were safeguarded by sovereign power.

Question 5

Hobbes view on human nature:

Answer 5

Hobbes took a profoundly sceptic view of human nature, arguing it was needy and vulnerable and therefore committed destructive acts.
Human nature was shaped by a ruthless desire for the acquisition of goods, an immovable distrust for others and a constant fear of an imminent death: “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”.

Question 6

Hobbes view on the natural rights cited by liberals

Answer 6

Prior to the creation of the state there was no cooperation or voluntary agreements between individuals, and therefore there was none of the “natural rights” cited by liberals.

Question 7

What did an absence of authority create?

Answer 7

“Natural chaos” . Authority could enforce an unquestionable code of rights and wrong. In its absence, mankind was left to form its own version of acceptable and unacceptable conduct, and because each version of right and wrong was different , this would lead to uncertainty and war.

Question 8

because Hobbes did not consider human nature wholly irrational, what would it eventually realise?

Answer 8

The state of nature was inimical to self interest and thus agree to a “contract”. Under this contract, individuals would render to a “sovereign”, that would make laws were all restrained and thus allow a sort of order and eventually lead to a society, where individuals could enjoy some security and progress.

Question 9

In order for the state to accomplish its side of the bargain, what would it have to be?

Answer 9

Autocratic. If power were dispersed, then conflicts within the state of nature would soon be replicated.

Question 10

What was the principle reason for the creation of the state?

Answer 10

The creation of order and stability. Without such a state there would be no civil society, and for the state to be effective it would have to be autocratic, intimidating and forbidding.

Question 11

Edmund Burke

Answer 11

1829-1897

Question 12

What type of conservative was Edmund Burke?

Answer 12

Traditional-known as the father of conservatism.

Question 13

Burkes Book:

Answer 13

“reflections on the revolutions in France” 1790 - it defined various tenants of conservatist though, including human imperfection, empiricism, Organism, tradition, aristocracy and localism.

Question 14

Burke on Human Imperfection:

Answer 14

Stressed mankind’s fallibility and its tendency to fail more than succeed. He thus denounced the idealistic society of the French Revolution-claiming it was based on a utopian and view of human nature.

Question 15

Whilst change was nesscerry to conserve, what basis should it proceed on?

Answer 15

Fact and experience-in other words experience and tradition-rather than theory and idealism. Criticised the French Revolution for disregarding what was known in favour of an entirely new society. “We are better guided by tradition and history than new ideas of a perfect society”

Question 16

Quote on being guided by experience and tradition:

Answer 16

. “We are better guided by tradition and history than new ideas of a perfect society”

Question 17

What did Burke say society and the government were akin too?

Answer 17

A plant rather than a machine. He therefore argued that both had a mysterious dynamism that was beyond reason and planning. Burke therefore insisted on change being cautious and organic, unlike the French Revolution.

Question 18

Why was he scathing about the French revolutions stress on equality?

Answer 18

Asserted that in all “organic societies” a ruling class was inevitable and desirable. However, this ruling class had an obligation to govern the interests of all. For Burke, French aristocrats failure to look after working class was reason for revolution

Question 19

He condemned the new French republic for its highly centralised structures, what did he praise instead?

Answer 19

“little platoons”: a multitude of small, diverse and largely autonomous communities, which would “acknowledge, nurture and prune the crooked timber of humanity”

Question 20

Micheal Oakeshott

Answer 20

1901-1990

Question 21

Oakeshott’s book:

Answer 21

“On being conservative” 1962
“The politics of faith and scepticism” (views on the state)

Question 22

Oakeshott’s view on change:

Answer 22

Change must be accommodated, which is never easy. There is always a risk of loss, change is inevitable yet difficult thus a slow pace of change is preferred. This should be judged based on the disruption it causes.

Question 23

Oakeshott’s view on innovation

Answer 23

The impacts of innovation are often greater than expected, as it entails certain loss and possible gain. Innovation that resembles growth is preferred. Innovation is best when it is in response to a particular defect-this minimises loss and maximises gain.

Question 24

Oakeshott on Change and the present:

Answer 24

Argued that perhaps we ought to enjoy the present as change can be tiring and dangerous, generating sadness rather than exhilaration.

Question 25

Oakeshott’s views as conservatism as an ideology (or not)

Answer 25

Argued that conservatism should not be taken too far, labelling it a state of mind rather than an ideology. Oakeshott argued conservatism acts as a guiding set of principles and that people should never impose conservatism on anyone or others. Critical of progressive ideologies imposing ideas onto others.

Question 26

Oakeshott’s views on the government

Answer 26

Government must be limited so it does not infringe upon peoples views. It should act as an umpire not a player, and it should not impose private beliefs onto others. “this world, not another world”, government maintains loyalty, preserves the past and enforces existing rules rather than new ones. Should be strong, alert, resolute, economical, neutral, and inconspicuous.

Question 27

Oakeshott’s views on human nature

Answer 27

Wished to clarify the negative view of human nature. Most men and women were “fallible but not terrible” and “imperfect but not immoral”. Though incapable of the perfect societies link with other ideologies, humanity was still able to secure “both pleasure and improvements” through the humdrum and business of everyday life.

Question 28

Oakeshott quote of the present

Answer 28

“Conservatives prefer the familiar to the unknown, the convenient to the perfect, present laughter to utopian bliss.”

Question 29

How did Oakeshott believe happiness was achieved?

Answer 29

Being dismissive of “normative” politics, with its “simplistic visions that overlooked the complexity of reality”, he argues it was through experience- trial and error- rather than an abstract philosophy that happiness was achieved.

Question 30

Oakeshott’s idea on how happiness is achieved?

Answer 30

“in a kitchen, cookbooks are only useful after the experience of preparing a meal.”

Question 31

How did Oakeshott’s view of human nature inform his view of the state?

Answer 31

He argued the state existed too “states exist to Prevent the bad rather than create the good”, Restating that the best things in life normally emerge from routine. This led Him to offer his celebrated ‘nautical metaphor’:

Question 32

Oakeshott’s nautical metaphor

Answer 32

“during our lives we sail a boundless sea with no appointed destination”, and the job of the government is to protect this by “keeping the ship afloat at all costs”.

Question 33

Ayn Rand

Answer 33

1905-82

Question 34

Ayn Rand books:

Answer 34

Atlas Shrugged (1952)
“The Virtue of Selfishness” 1964

Question 35

What did Rand say about governments and talented individuals in “Atlas Shrugged”?

Answer 35

It was talented individuals, rather than ambitious governments lay at the heart of any successful society. The novel suggested that without the energy of such individuals society would wither, no matter how much activity was expended by governments

Question 36

What did Rand state in “The Virtue of Selfishness”, in 1964, we should all be guided by?

Answer 36

self-interest and “rational self fulfilment.”

Question 37

Rand became associated with New right atomism, what is this?

Answer 37

The term for a society defined by millions of autonomous individuals each independently seeking self fulfilment and self realisation.
Her work provided philosophical justification for the idea that society did not exist in any practical form, it was ideally just a loose collection of independent individuals.

Question 38

what did her “objectivists” philosophy became strongly linked with?

Answer 38

a more laissez-faire brand of capitalism and its renewal of negative liberty, thus providing a philosophical justification for rolling back the frontiers of the state and projects such as tax cuts and privatisation.

Question 39

she was a libertarian but not an anarchist, how did she make this known?

Answer 39

she defended not just free markets but the individuals “right to choose” in areas such as homosexuality and abortion. But, she firmly rejected any suggestion of anarchism, claiming that both free markets and cultural laissez-faire needed the parameters of a small state.

Question 40

How did she strengthen her conservative position in her later work?

Answer 40

Rand strengthened her connection to conservatism by stating that liberty was impossible without order and security, which only a state could provide.

Question 41

Who did she support to strengthen her credentials as a conservative?

Answer 41

the ultra conservative candidate Barry Goldwater in the 1964 U.S. presidential election, during which she wrote “the small state is the strong state”.

Question 42

Robert Nozick

Answer 42

1938-2002

Question 43

What type of conservatives are Robert Nozick and Ayn Rand?

Answer 43

New right

Question 44

Robert Nozick book

Answer 44

anarchy, state and utopia”

Question 45

What did Nozick think was the greatest contemporary threat to individual freedom?

Answer 45

the growth of the government, thinking the growth of welfare states in western Europe created a dependency culture.

Question 46

What did being a libertarian mean for Nozick’s philosophy?

Answer 46

As a result libertarianism is tolerant of liberal “permissive society” and takes a relaxed view on issues such as abortion and homosexuality.

Question 47

How is Nozicks philosophy associated with anarchist, and induviduals being left alone?

Answer 47

It involves threads of anarchism as he claimed “tax for the most part is theft”-indicating an upbeat view that individuals have self ownership and soul authority over their talents and abilities and should be left alone to realise them without government intervention.

Question 48

Nozicks positive ideas on human nature?

Answer 48

Nozick’s optimistic view of human nature encouraged him to endorse a liberal “permissive society” and takes a relaxed view on issues such as abortion and homosexuality.

Question 49

Nozick’s negative ideas on human nature?

Answer 49

He argued that while dishonesty and theft and violence were not the main characteristics of humanity, the preservation of life, liberty and property “could not be taken for granted” without some formal authority enforcing laws.

Question 50

What was the purpose of Nozick’s limited state?

Answer 50

Nozick’s limited state was not to simply facilitate raw individualism and free market capitalism. It would allow for a multitude of self sufficent communities to emerge alongside induvidual freedom

Question 51

What would the minarchism Nozick prescribed allow to emerge?

Answer 51

A magnitude of self-sufficient communities to emerge alongside the extension of individual freedoms. In Nozick’s minimalistic societies, each of these communities would be free to practise particular moral codes and values, including values which may be seen is anti Christian or socialist